**** CKPT FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 4 *******
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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FIJI MILITARY: To Fiji where the military has moved against the police - seizing weapons from two amouries in a move that appears to be the first signs that a coup is now taking place. Earlier today truckloads of heavily armed troops arrived at the police tactical response unit's headquarters north of Suva and shortly afterwards began removing weapons from the armoury. After an initial stand off where the police insisted that the arms should only be viewed and not removed, the soldiers loaded up the guns without any violence. The army is now trying to get the weapons at a smaller armoury at the Nasova Police Academy in Suva. Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who has been threatening to topple Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's government, is due to hold a media conference at seven o'clock this evening. Radio Fiji reporter Matai Akauola has just been at the police academy. PRE-REC IV
TAVERN GUNPOINT: The manager of a Rotorua tavern forced at gunpoint to empty poker machines of cash says the ordeal has left her shaken and scared but determined to carry on in the family-run business. Stevie Mitchell and ten customers were in the Ruck and Maul Tavern at about half past eight last night when two men carrying sawn off shot guns and wearing balaclavas and white gloves burst in and told them to get down on the floor. One person was bashed in the face with the butt of the gun and another was kicked during the 20 minute hold-up. Police say there were three other people involved who were guarding the exits. The men made off in a stolen car which they abandoned a short time later. Ms Mitchell explains PRE-REC IV
REFUGEES PRISONS: Asylum seekers should not be housed in prison alongside convicted criminals, says the Refugee Council of New Zealand. 23 people claiming refugee status were being held in jail during mid October, according to a snapshot of figures from the Department of Labour.
Kiri Ennis with this report. PKGE
ELECTRICITY OVERPAID: A question mark hangs over the fate of millions of dollars overcharged to electricity customers through a bureaucratic quirk. The money's sitting in special accounts run by electricity firms and is gathering interest while competing sectors in the electricity business figure out what to do about it. Eric Frykberg reports PKGE
DATABASE ABUSE: Just how often is the police database being abused by its staff? A 111 call-centre worker has been sacked after being accused of stealing information from the database. Les Neilson, a former policeman, told the Dominion Post newspaper he used the national computer to check on potential girlfriends and that the practice is commonplace. He claims he's been made a scapegoat and is taking an unfair dismissal case to the Employment Relations Authority. On the line now is Deputy Police Commissioner, Lyn Provost. LIVE IV
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH BADEN CAMPBELL
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FIJI MILITARY (2): Back to Fiji where the military has moved against the police - seizing weapons from two amouries in a move that appears to be the first signs that a coup is now taking place. The Prime Minister Helen Clark is with us now LIVE IV
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
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FIJI MILITARY (3): Fiji's acting police commissioner Moses Driver has just held a media conference after the military today moved against the police seizing weapons from two armouries. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has called the move a creeping military operation designed to put pressure on Fiji's government, while Australia's foreign minister Alexander Downer today told parliament that Fiji is on the brink of a coup. Radio New Zealand International's Walter Zweifel has just been at the acting police commissioner's media conference and joins us now LIVE IV
AUSTRALIA LABOR: Australia's Labor Party has elected Kevin Rudd as its new leader. Mr Rudd, who challenged Kim Beazley for the top Labor job, this morning won the vote 49-39. Kim Beazley learned soon after losing the Labor leadership this morning that his brother had died and looked visibly upset as he held a media conference soon after. Joining us now is the ABC's political correspondent Louise Yacksley LIVE IV
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WAATEA NEWS WITH ERU REREKURA
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STABBING WITNESSES: A Christchurch court has heard a woman tried to attract the attention of council workers before she was fatally stabbed in her car while her toddler was in the backseat. 21-year old Tony Brian Norman is charged with kidnapping and murdering his partner, 24-year old Ariana Burgess in September this year. Our reporter Nadine Chalmers-Ross was at the hearing and she joins us now. LIVE IV
DOLPHIN DEATHS: The Department of Conservation says the loss of two endangered dolphins, found dead on a beach north of Auckland, is a huge set back to the recovery of the population. Two female Maui's were discovered lodged into rocks on Kariotahi Beach last night, and were recovered this morning. There are ony 111 of the species left, making them the most critically endangered marine mammal in the world. DOC spokesperson Bill Trusewich joins us now... LIVE IV
PHILIPPINES TYPHOON: The Red Cross has sent out an urgent plea for water, food and medicine in the wake of super typhoon Durian. Philippine officials say more than 1,000 people are either dead or missing after mudslides swallowed up whole villages. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared a state of national calamity. Villagers have been burying their dead in mass graves while officials say many bodies may never be recovered . CNNs Dan Rivers reports. PKGE
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